Vixen Founder Jan Kuehnemund Dies

Jan Kuehnemund, guitarist and founding member of glam-metal pioneers Vixen, has died after what was deemed a "fierce battle" with cancer. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, Kuehnemund started Vixen while still in high school, eventually relocating to Los Angeles in 1981. She was 51.

The news was broken by the official Vixen Facebook page, which called her passing "sudden," and says of the late guitarist: "Though most well known for her gifted guitar playing and other musical talents, Jan was a rare friend and beautiful in every sense of the word. Humble, thoughtful, loyal and kind, she was the most gracious of women, possessing the quiet strength of a true warrior."

Although the band was active in the L.A. metal and rock scenes through the '80s, it took until 1988 for Vixen to break through with their debut self-titled album, which boasted two top 40 singles: 'Edge of a Broken Heart' and 'Cryin'.' Tour dates with the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Bon Jovi followed, as well as a second LP 'Rev It Up,' before the band split in 1991 over musical differences.

Kuehnemund eventually reformed Vixen in 2001, seeing it through a number of lineup changes and co-writing all the original songs on the band's fourth LP 'Live & Learn,' released in 2006.